BANGKOK WELCOMES NEW NOVOTEL
Sept. 15, Accor will launch a new Bangkok Novotel on centrally-located Silom Road. Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom will showcase NEXT, Novotel’s new room concept. NEXT introduces clear glass bathrooms capable of transforming into a fully private space with the flick of a switch, padded headboards for beds, and desks that can convert into tables for in-room dining. Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom has 216 rooms, including 12 suites and 34 Premier Executive Club rooms. Guests booking suites and Premier Executive rooms have exclusive access to the property’s Club Lounge. Wireless and wired high-speed internet access is available throughout the hotel. Rounding out the amenities and features are a swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, lobby lounge and sidewalk café. They’re offering an attractive introductory opening rate of Baht1999 (about $65) per room per night, through December 31.www.novotel.com

Westin Opens New Phuket Spa
Last month saw Westin Hotels & Resorts open a new Heavenly Spa by Westin at the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket. The spa has six treatment rooms and two spa suites with such features as Ayurveda wellness rooms and Vichy showers. Many of the treatments at the spa draw on indigenous Thai materials and therapies, such as the signature treatment called Luk Pra Kob, which utilizes a steamed herbal ball containing bergamot, pandan, tamarind leaf, camphor and turmeric. Luk Pra Kob has been used in traditional Thai medicine to relieve stress for over 400 years. Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket has 250 rooms, all having sea views, balconies, flat screen TVs and iPod docking stations.www.starwoodhotels.com/westin

Oberoi Eyes Thailand
India-based Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has an impressive plan for growth into cosmopolitan capitals like New York and Paris, but will first flex its muscles in Thailand. Oberoi is on record with plans to enter the Thailand market within the next three years. By the time the company is done with this growth spurt, it hopes to jump its number of properties from 19 to 40. Oberoi is keeping mum on the proposed location of its Thailand hotels.www.oberoihotels.com